Ryan's Tribute to t.u. Fans

Ryan's Tribute to t.u. Fans

The "2006 Controversy" - the TRUE Longhorn Fan - and Closure

November 2006
It all started with a simple bet, the person whose team wins the big A&M vs t.u. game provides a shirt for the loser to wear. It had been done since 1996, and started as a requirement to wear the shirt for the entire day at work. But through time, as friends and I changed jobs, the bet changed to just a picture wearing the shirt.
Everything was going great with the bet, even though I had worn burnt orange for 8 of the 10 years I have been running the bet. I guess I should have started the bet much sooner, especially in the late 80's and early 90's. But then 2006 came, and here we are.
As in 2004 and 2005, I made the bet with my neighbor across the street, Mike Walter. And in 2004 and 2005, I wore the burnt orange shirt, owning up to my end of the bargain. I even have a page that shows the "non-winning" pictures, and had complied with putting those pictures on the webpage once I received them from the neighbor.
And here we are, 2006. The Aggies have an amazing game against a very good t.u. team the day after Thanksgiving, and pull the upset, 12-7. What a game, it was close to the end. Finally, after 6 straight years, I was going to be beside a t-sip'r, both of us wearing maroon. But this is where the story gets weird.
On Sunday, I finally had a chance to talk with the neighbor, and he made a statement that in literary terms was "foreshadowing" what was to happen. He stated that he might need some time before he was ready to take the picture. Time for what, I wasn't sure. On Monday, I called again, since it was a nice sunny day, and asked if he wanted to do the picture early in the afternoon. I thought this was a good time because most of the neighbors weren't home from work yet, and he wouldn't have to be visible to them. He again made a statement of "needing more time", but would do it Tuesday afternoon.
Well, Tuesday afternoon comes, we meet, and I hand him the shirt to wear. In an unexpected move, he takes the shirt and says he'll be right back. Right back for what, I wasn't sure. The bet is simple, as I should know. I've been on the "non winning" end many times. If I wasn't wearing an Aggie hat, I would have an Aggie shirt on, and would just slide the t-sip shirt over top. Simple, then smile for the camera, then take that shirt off quickly? What did he need more time for?
Well, he apparently needed more time so that he could renege on the intent of the bet. After going inside, he returned wearing a full Santa wig, dark glasses, and a tan hat. Now I understood what he needed to prepare for. At first I thought he was just joking, I laughed, took his picture by himself, and told him that I'd put that picture on the website next to the real one with a caption of "nice try". But unfortunately, he was serious; this was the only way he was going to be photographed, as he refused to take the wig off. He even went back inside before changing, and then returned the shirt.
As far as I am concerned, the 2006 bet is unfulfilled. And to be fair to myself, I have removed the 2004 and 2005 pictures from my website.

August 28, 2007 - Update I
As you can probably guess from story above, I did not make a bet with the neighbor in 2007. However, I did call upon a friend from the past to see if he was interested in betting again. I had lost the bet in 2001, 2002, and 2003 to Larry Robichaux. We started to chat about the 2007 bet, and he asked what happened in 2006. Well, that started a long conversation.
And then he shocked me. He said he'd fill in for the LOSER in 2006. I was floored that he'd be willing to do that. Wow, so that's what a TRUE Longhorn fan does. We met in August and took some great pictures.
And, to return the gesture and to keep the website up-to-date with no blanks, I agreed to have my picture retaken for 2004 and 2005 with him.
Thanks Larry for being a TRUE Longhorn fan, and for being a great friend.

August 31, 2007 - Update II
Well, three days after making Larry put on an Aggie shirt, the 2006 Controversy is over. Mike Walter took his picture with me to fulfill his bet.
Thanks again Larry for being there, I really appreciate it.

The Good Years